Categories
Misc

UK Gardeners : Have you tried growing your own Saffron?

Had an email from dobies saying they are selling Saffron Crocus bulbs, I use a bit of saffron, do you think its worth getting as there will nice flowers during the late summer. Harvest your own ‘Red Gold’ !!!! Saffron is one of the most rare and expensive spices and is an incredible way to […]

Had an email from dobies saying they are selling Saffron Crocus bulbs, I use a bit of saffron, do you think its worth getting as there will nice flowers during the late summer.

Harvest your own ‘Red Gold’ !!!!

Saffron is one of the most rare and expensive spices and is an incredible way to colour and flavour exotic meals, one gram can flavour 10 plates of food !

Suttons ‘Saffron Crocus’ bulbs not only enable you to grow your own ‘Red Gold’, but are also unusual in the fact that you can plant bulbs in August and you will have beautiful blooms in only 4 – 6 weeks !! You do not need a lot of space, as they will thrive in a well drained border, but can easily be grown in pots on the patio as well. This species of crocus is also super tolerant to summer heat and winter cold as it originates from the Himalayas.

So now to the fun bit …. harvesting your own saffron. Once your blooms have grown, look out for the red saffron ribbons dangling from the throats of the crocuses. Just snip them off and then once cut and dried they can be stored in an air tight container for several years!

By Andrew Wilcox

Andrew Wilcox is a freelance web developer and digital marketing consultant based in Penarth, Wales, with over 25 years of experience in the industry. He has worked on numerous large news websites and content management systems within the media sector, and now helps businesses of all sizes with web development, SEO and digital marketing. Andrew is also the founder of the nationally recognised Shed of the Year competition, now in its 20th year, which he grew from an online project into a television partnership.